Sunday 6 April 2014

Miss Winkle is done and dusted


This has been a busy weekend with my day class yesterday on hand quilting and a redrafting of the same project today. I was not too happy with the accuracy of the tracing and the heaviness of the lines. I recut the cushion front in cream cotton sateen this time and traced the design lightly with a soft lemon water-colour pencil. I can just about see it which means I can see the size and placing of the stitches much better.

The weather brightened slightly this morning so I was able to take a photo of the Miss Winkle shawlette which was finally dry after blocking.




The pattern is by Martina Behm and is available as a download from her website 
The website is in German and English and Martina has some really unusual designs
I love the explanation of the name of the shawl.

One of my favorite sitcoms is “The Big Bang Theory“. In one episode, nerdy physicist Leonard dates his colleague Leslie Winkle and they have a fierce argument about which version of Quantum Mechanics is correct – String Theory or Loop Quantum Gravity. When Leonard declares that he prefers his space “stringy, not loopy“, that’s a dealbreaker for Leslie (”How will we raise the children?“). This very loopy shawlette is here to celebrate Miss Winkle, women scientists and all women who know what they want and don’t let any man talk them out of it! 

The shawl is knitted in 4ply garter stitch and is really easy to knit once the loop has been mastered. It made a good project for sitting in front of the TV! I even learnt a new technique for binding off. I always thought there was only one way of casting off. Through the joys of the internet I can now do an Icelandic bind off which gives a lovely edge to the garter stitch.


I'm linking up with Sarah from Crafts from the Cwtch who has been running this fun KAL on Ravelry.



My next knitting project is a cardigan for my granddaughter, 3year old Vivi. I've chosen a pattern called Granny's Favourite by Georgie Hallam. I've got my knitting mojo back since I discovered independent pattern designers. Vivi has problems with wool on her skin so I tend to choose either a cotton yarn or a manmade fibre. This time I decided on a pale silvery grey DK yarn; Jenny Watson Babysoft DK. I'll be casting on tonight while I watch the first episode of the WW1 drama The Crimson Field on BBC1. 


I'm also linking up with Wool on Sundays.







9 comments:

  1. I love the colours and the loops of your pretty shawlette I will learn how to do the loops they look so good.

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    1. They are just the last 4 stitches which are twisted and then knitted on their own. Some on the KAL learnt to knit them backwards. Not sure what that means!

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  2. I love your shawlette and the story behind the design is brilliant! I shall go and investigate your Icelandic bindoff. Before I discovered internet knitters I thought I was pretty good at knitting - now I learned I've barely scratched the tip of the iceberg! :)

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    1. Me too! I learn something new all the time now

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  3. I concur absolutely....the matters concerning all things knitting, stitching, crocheting....are the important issues in life!! Love your story...it added a smile to my dial!! Your shawlette is gorgeous; I love the edging. Aren't we lucky to travel through cyberspace and discover all those pretties and the makers behind them, without ever getting up from our comfy sofa. Have fun knitting your grandaughter's cardigan...it sounds lovely.

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    1. Vivi's cardi is now on hold as I found anther shawl pattern for me this time!

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  4. Lovely shawl and a fun story behind the design :)

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  5. Your grand children are so lucky to have a gram to make things for them. Hope they remember this always. Too bad they have to outgrow the items. Even tho you've put the cami on hold, I know you'll make it for Vivi.
    Lin

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  6. Your Miss Winkle is wonderful!!! I'm about 34 loops along, so not too sure how many I've got to go!
    Good luck with your Grannys Favourite, when you start, I've just got one sleeve to go. A good yarn for children is Debbie Bliss Eco baby, it's Cotton and really soft, I used it for a jumper for my daughter.

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